I am generally a big supporter of local independent newspapers, but John Walters’ article in Seven Days raises a longtime issue many of us have had with the (Franklin) County Courier over political bias that extends to its editorial policies.
Walters’ piece discusses this bias as it specifically impacts Cindy Weed (P-Enosburg Falls), who is defending her seat against Republican Felisha Leffler. Besides being a Republican challenger to Weed, Ms. Leffler is the girlfriend of Gregory Lamoureux, the paper’s owner, publisher and chief reporter.
As custodian of his little corner of the Fourth Estate, Mr. Lamoureaux should bend over backwards to avoid the appearance of bias, especially when it comes so close to home.
Weed is quick to point out that she was not the aggrieved candidate who apparently contacted Walters with the current complaint of bias against the Courier. While she has had an ongoing struggle with the Courier just to get them to print her letters as Representative for the district, as well as those of others who support her positions; she is not the only one to remark on the Courier’s biased editorial policies, but rather one of many unhappy locals.
Mr. Walters may have focussed on Cindy Weed due to a similarity in the bias issue involving Mr. Lamoureaux and his relationship to candidate Leffler to a bias controversy weathered a few years ago by publisher and co-editor of Seven Days, Paula Routly, who is the domestic partner of Tim Ashe (D/P Chittenden). The circumstances at Seven Days had one notable difference: there was little indication that any conflict of interest had actually affected editorial policy at Seven Days. The same cannot be said for Mr. Lamoureaux’ stewardship of the County Courier.
If Mr. Lamoureaux’ excuse for the appearance of political bias is that he can’t afford a bigger staff in order to distance himself from occasion for bias, he should know that he does himself and the Courier no favors with this argument. I have friends who have cancelled their subscriptions to the Courier due to the peculiarly unwelcoming policies it practices with regard to letters-to-the-editor, especially when they fall outside the political views of Mr. Lamoureaux.
As Walters mentions in his article, the St. Albans Messenger has a policy of printing virtually every letter to the editor that it receives, without alteration. This is just smart business practice as it provides a kind of “buy in” from the community, encourages subscriptions and makes for a much livelier read. It isn’t as if there is so much more pressing news in Franklin County that the Courier can’t find room for commentary from all corners of the political spectrum; and the more the merrier.
If anyone, but particularly an elected representative, takes the trouble to compose a letter to the editor, it is a wise publisher who recognizes this for the gift it represents to a free and fair press…not something to be undervalued in these uncertain times.
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